1Sa 10:1 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter has two parts. Both parts deal with the designation of Saul as king. We see how God is very busy with Saul throughout the preparation for this. In the first part ( ) Saul is prepared for kingship in secret by Samuel, that is, by God, while no man in Israel yet knows of his kingship. Saul was not rejected by God from the beginning. God has prepared him in such a way that Saul has every opportunity to get to know God and know how to govern. This preparation is also important for every believer because the Lord has a service, a task, for every believer. In the second part ( ) Saul is openly appointed. It is not Samuel who appoints him so that it does not seem that he is behind the appointment, but God appoints him. God does so in a way that the people can attribute the choice of Saul to none but themselves. Saul is anointed from a flask, David from a horn ( ). A flask is fragile. Here it is a symbol of the kingship of Saul that is nothing more than human work and will finally be broken. Oil speaks of the Holy Spirit. God indicates that He wants to use Saul, but that Saul must let himself be guided by the Holy Spirit. Later Saul indeed is led by the Spirit, but only externally ( ). The horn from which David is anointed is not fragile but speaks of strength ( ). The horn comes from a clean animal that was first sacrificed to God, and therein lies the power. Exercise of the kingship can only take place based on the sacrifice. There is no jealousy with Samuel (cf. ), but respect. He submits to the new king with a kiss of love. He does not do so in public, but in this personal conversation, as an expression of his heart. He was the first to recognize Saul as his new king from that moment on. Here we see a love that “does not seek its own” ( ; cf. ). In a world full of selfishness, the joy of another person’s prosperity, for example the promotion of a colleague, is rare. Samuel acts in the Name of the LORD and anoints Saul king over the “inheritance” of the LORD, that is His land. This means a great responsibility. He must protect that inheritance, take care of it, manage it for the LORD and render account to Him.

‏ 1 Samuel 10:1

Introduction

This chapter has two parts. Both parts deal with the designation of Saul as king. We see how God is very busy with Saul throughout the preparation for this.

In the first part (1Sam 10:1-16) Saul is prepared for kingship in secret by Samuel, that is, by God, while no man in Israel yet knows of his kingship. Saul was not rejected by God from the beginning. God has prepared him in such a way that Saul has every opportunity to get to know God and know how to govern. This preparation is also important for every believer because the Lord has a service, a task, for every believer.

In the second part (1Sam 10:17-27) Saul is openly appointed. It is not Samuel who appoints him so that it does not seem that he is behind the appointment, but God appoints him. God does so in a way that the people can attribute the choice of Saul to none but themselves.

Saul Anointed a King

Saul is anointed from a flask, David from a horn (1Sam 16:13). A flask is fragile. Here it is a symbol of the kingship of Saul that is nothing more than human work and will finally be broken. Oil speaks of the Holy Spirit. God indicates that He wants to use Saul, but that Saul must let himself be guided by the Holy Spirit. Later Saul indeed is led by the Spirit, but only externally (1Sam 10:10). The horn from which David is anointed is not fragile but speaks of strength (1Sam 2:10). The horn comes from a clean animal that was first sacrificed to God, and therein lies the power. Exercise of the kingship can only take place based on the sacrifice.

There is no jealousy with Samuel (cf. 1Cor 13:4b), but respect. He submits to the new king with a kiss of love. He does not do so in public, but in this personal conversation, as an expression of his heart. He was the first to recognize Saul as his new king from that moment on. Here we see a love that “does not seek its own” (1Cor 13:5b; cf. 1Cor 10:24). In a world full of selfishness, the joy of another person’s prosperity, for example the promotion of a colleague, is rare.

Samuel acts in the Name of the LORD and anoints Saul king over the “inheritance” of the LORD, that is His land. This means a great responsibility. He must protect that inheritance, take care of it, manage it for the LORD and render account to Him.